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A whole-time temporary medical officer was appointed for first aid
training of Civil Defence personnel and a staff officer administered the Light
Rescue Service. Medical officers to the First Aid Posts, fixed and mobile,
and for shelter health supervision were appointed from among medical
practitioners in the Borough who volunteered. One Medical Officer in charge
of a mobile unit was awarded the H.B.E. Qualified nurses were appointed to
each First Aid Post and Shelter Post in addition to Civil Defence personnel.
Many lives were saved by the Light and Heavy Rescue Party personnel in their
skilful and patient extrication of trapped casualties, often working under
arduous or dangerous conditions.
There were 958 fatal casualties in Islington as a result of enemy action,
and 2,090 seriously injured were removed to hospital. Close on 3,000 were more
slightly injured. The most serious incident was in December 1944, when there
were 69 killed and 114 removed to hospital.
In spite of much damage to water mains and sewers at times, there was no
recorded case of infectious disease due to contaminated water supplies, thanks
to the effectiveness of the measures, by chlorination and otherwise, taken by the
Metropolitan Water Board, There were also no major epidemics, in spite of overcrowding
in shelters and elsewhere, although there was a consistent increase
in Scabies during the war years.
The legacy of damaged and destroyed houses will remain a problem for
sometime to come and has vastly intensified the housing needs of the Borough
which were already acute before the war.
With the close of hostilities during the year, the casualty sections of
the Civil Defence Services were wound up, and the personnel of the First Aid
Posts and Light Rescue Parties were demobilised.
Two members of the staff were released from H.M. Forces in the latter
part of the year and two retired on superannuation. A considerable number of
changes took place among the temporary members of the staff, and generally
speaking, the deficiencies of clerical staff mentioned in previous reports continued
during this year.
I have pleasure in expressing thanks to Dr.Hirst and to all members of
the staff, both permanent and temporary, who assisted willingly and co-operated
loyally in a difficult transition year. I desire also to express appreciation
to the Chairmen and members of the Public Health and Maternity and Child Welfare
Committees for their consideration and understanding of matters brought before
them both by myself and the Acting Medical Officer of Health .
V. FREEMAN
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
December, 1946.